Once a Bride
Eloise Hamelin’s life is about to drastically change. Summoned by her father, she enters his workroom to find him stuffing money and papers into a pouch as he tells her he must flee because the King has accused him of treason. Roland St. Marten, the brother of her late fiancé, has been sent to guard Lelleford Castle until Eloise’s father has been tried for his alleged crime.
Eloise is haunted by a cursed reputation, for her groom-to-be died on the steps of the church minutes before they were to be wed. This only increased Roland’s dislike of Eloise since he had been arguing with his brother right before the wedding, advising him that she was much too independent and strident of speech for a successful match. The tension mounts between Roland and Eloise, yet the physical attraction vies with their thoughts about each other. Intertwined into their growing passion is a serious threat from those who would see her father convicted, hanged, and quartered. Who is behind this plot and how will it be resolved?
Not much history can be found within this novel, but one will see excellent descriptions of 14th century castles, food, dress, and customs, as well as the typical intrigues, deceptions, and political unions that forged royalty and its favored few into such powerful dynasties.
